Street sign



Oct. 7, 1930. REYNOLDS 1,777,734

- STREET SIGN Filed Oct. 31. 1929' s Sheets-Sheet 1 'TAT E 9T imllliilHai /3115. .Efyrzolcts MM; m

Oct. -7, 1930. H. H. REYNOLDS STREET S IGN 31, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet- 3Patented Oct. 7, 1930- I f IAR'RY H. nnvnotnsor ciHIcAeo, ILLINOIS,'AssIenon T'O'ALFRED M. RYCKOFF, or

1 CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS *srannr SICGN Application fi1ed ctoher 3}, 1929.;Seria1 No.403,882.

The present invention relates to street signs, and is'particularly"concerned .w1th

v signs ofthe type adapted tobe attached to f ble of utilizingto thebest advantage, the illumination provided by the street lamp streetlights or parts thereof.

. The signs of the prior art have not been" universally applicabletomodern street lamps of all kinds, nor have they been capaunder allconditions for lighting the sign at night,without casting disagreeableshadows or obscuring the lamp. The prior devices sign structure in placewhile it is being sew lamps with great difi'iculty, on account of theproblem involved in holding the heavy metal cured by bolts or otherfastening devices. f WVhen the sign is of any substantial size andconstructed of cast metal, as is usually the case, it is particularlydiflicult to" hold the sign in place and at the same time secure it tothe post or other parts of the lamp, because the signs'a-re usuallylocated at such a height that it is necessary to use one or moreladders, and the prior signs must ordinarilybe supported at both sidesby one or more workmen, while other workmen adjust the securing devicesprovided. One of the objects of the present invention is the provisionof an improved street sign which is universally applicable to practically all kinds of modern street lamps, or which is applicable tomorelamps than the deviceso'f the prior art, and which may be adjustedtoutilize the illumination to the best proved street sign structure, whichis caparounding terrain.

Another object is the provision oi an-improved street sign structure,which is capa .ble of more-economical manufacture than the priordevices, more durable and capable of advantage for lighting the signsand the surmore permanent and firm attachment to' nodern'street lampstructures.

Another ObJBClJ is the prov sion of an 1m- .ble of being attached tostreet-lamps and adjusted or secured with a minimumamount 0f effort, andwithoutthe necessity of the street lamp.

assistance of several laborers, or lifting devices for holding the signin place while it is being secured tothe post or other parts of the.Anotherobject of the invention is the proyision of an improved lampstructure, which is adapted to automatically center itself, and providedwith means for guidingthe various supportingelements into properposition.

Another object is the provision ofan improved method of installingstreet lamp signs which is applicable to many different forms of theimproved structure shown herein, and which results inasubstantial'saving of time,

labor and expense in the installation of the signs. e 7

Other objects and advantages dot the invention'. will be apparent fromthe followingdescription, and from the accompanying drawings, in whichsimilar characters of ref: erence indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views. r Referring to the drawings, of which there are threesheets;

Fig 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp equipped with asignconstructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 a plan view with the globe or lamp in section, in order to revealthe construction of the sign unit;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the corner structure of thesign unit;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the parts of the securing andsupporting unit;

F ig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line S c-1t Fig. 2, showing thestructure ofthe automatic centering device;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the lamp unit and supporting unit asthe device appears after the, first step in the installation of thesigns i I v r Fig. '7 is a plan View in partialsection of amodifiedformzofconstruction; v i F igLS is another view in elevatiomofthe 'modified construction broken away to show other details ofstructure of the device.

Referring to Fig. 1-, 10 indicates in its'en tirety the lamp unit whichmay'consist of a post 11 or other support usually rovided with ametalring 12 for supportinga globe 13, or other'luminous body, having anelectric bulb or an equivalent source of 1llum1nat1on located inside theglobe 13 for illuminating the surrounding terrain.

It should be understood that the globe13 may be of any shape or equvalent structure, and the source of illuminationprovided may be any ofthe conventional sources-of 111mm- 1 nation capable of being employed'with the particular type of globe used. V

The'sign unit is indicated in its entirety by the number 14, and thesign unit 14 preferably-f includes a framework 15 surrounding said globeand carriedby either of the supports 11 or 12,-,for locating a pluralityof sign carrying frames '16 in the best position to utilize the Villuminationprovided.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. lto 5, the framework 15 preferablycomprises 'a plurality of radially extending arms 1?, the middle portionof which may be ofsubstantially 8- shape in order to'iinprove theornamental appearance of thesign and to bring the signs into a positionwhich is most desirable with certain types of lamps. The supporting arms17 are provided at .their inner end with a substantially horizontallyextending part 18, having a lower seatingsurface 19 for receive ing theradiallyextending arms 20 carried,

by the securing and supporting unit 21.

In order to accomplish the functi on of automatically centering andlocating the sign unit upon the supporting unit 21, the horizontal parts18 of the arms 17 may belirovided with depending flanges 22 forming arecess or groove for recelvmg the radial Sll l')I)()1l111.

arms 20 of the supporting unit 21, it should be understood that in someembodiments of the invention the flanges 22 may be carried by the arms20 of the supporting unit forming a guide in the top of the arm 20 forreceiving a complementary member on the sign unit.

The framework 14;, surrounding the globe 1.3, also includes verticallyextending parts 23 on each ofthe radial arms 17 for the purpose offixedly or ad ustablysupporting a plurality of sign carrying frames 16.

Each ofthe vertically extending parts or corners 23 is illustrated.indetail in Fig. 3, and i it will be observed that in this embodiment,

the arm 17 is provided with an integral upv wardly extendingcornermember having a pair of flanges 2% and 25 at rightangles to each other.At their lower ends, each of the flanges 24: and 25 is provided with anaperture for receiving screw bolts 26 passing through the flanges 24, 25and threaded into the flanges 27 on the sign carrying frames 16 forpivot.- ally supporting the bottom of the sign frames during adjustmentand fixedly supporting the frames when the sign unit has been installedas desired.

' "Eachof the flanges'24 and 25 is provided atits top with a lateralextension or arcuate portion 28, each of which may be provided with anyumber of apertures 29 for receiving screw bolts 30 to secure the signframes 16 in any of a plurality of positions.

It will be understood that the apertures 29 with the axisof the bolts 26as a center, but the extensions 28 need not necessarily be arcuate inshape, but arepreferably made soto save material and decrease the weightof the assembly.

.The various sign frames 16 may be identical in shape and it should beunderstood that any number of sign frames may beemployed, so thatwhilethe present sign unlt is rectangular in plan, a sign might also beconstructed whichwould be liexagonal in plan if it were desired toaccommodate the sign unit in an'intersection having three streets. Insuch case, the sign frames 'would naturally be shorter and the anglebetween the flanges 25 and 2t and the number of arms would bechanged-accordingly.

work, and the bottom frame member31 may be provided with one or moreinwardly extending flanges 37 located at the middle or ends. orextending cempletely along the bottom for supporting the weight of thesign 36. The flanges 27' and flange37 are preferably provided withresilient'metal fingers 38 extending substantially parallel to the rearside of the sign frame 16, but spaced therefrom so that the fingers 38form guides.

for the rear sideofthe sign 36,.and also form securing devices forresiliently engagingthe signs 36 when they are in place.

"The signsBSma'y consist of any material which is capable of receivingprinted or other characters, and capable of transmittingsome light sothat the characterswill be illuminated by the unequal transmission oflight through the characters and back ground, and

the term translucent is used in this specification and claims fordesignating all mate rials of this character, such as ground glass,

painted glasls, ground glass with painted letters, etc.

Referring to Fig. 4, one of the elements of the securing and supportingunit is illus-' trated in perspective in this figure. ment illustratedin Fig. .t'may consist of an arcuate'metal clamping member 39,preferablyprovided with an inner cylindrical surface 40, which iscomplementary .to the outer are located upon the arc of a circle drawn rThe ele V 1 apertures e16 of sufficient size to pass the heads.

.of the screws-4:5 and the apertures16 .rnay be elongated for thepurpose of permltting rotary adjustment'of-ithe supportmgumtfon clampingbolts 13 "which are 'curedby hut/$414. 1"

surface of the metal supporting ring12 which carries theglobe 13. x

Under certain conditions, thepresent s gn may alsoibe secureddirectly tothe post 10,

but lamp-post or; other supporting 7 devices are made of a vast numberofdifferent shapes,

- and frequently .provided with ornamental and the provision of asecuringunit whichris adapted to be applied to. a metal part, ratherthan to *the; concrete, greatly IIICIGRSBS the durability andgpermanence,of securement to the lamp,;q,

- 7 Each ofthe clamping elements 39 provided with a radially,extendingflange 41 having an} aperture 12,.for receiving the Since-thela-mpisupporting V V ordin rily providedjwith screws 15' forengagementwith the lower rim of the globe 1'3, 7

the' clamping elements 39 are provided with the :ring 12. 'Vlhenthesupporting unit 21 is supported in clan'lpingrelation-tothe ring 12orpost. 11,it will be observed that spaces usually exist between theradial flanges 41,

therebyproviding additional means for adiustment'and location of theclamping members39 on the ring 12 with respect to the existing screwheads 45. a

Each of the clamping members 39 is provided with an outwardly extending.supporting arm 20, preferably tapered to secure a maximum strength for amnnmunramount of material and provided with anupper supvporting'surfac'ez48 adapted to engage the seating-surface 19- on the 'bottomofthe arms 17 carriedbythe sign un t. The-horizontal portion 18 of thearms liis providedwith an'zqaerture forreceivinga securing-bolt 49,

and the. supporting arm '20 is provided with anelongated slot eoforachustably recelv-i ing the bolt ltlto securejarms 17 andQO to gether.

of the -slot 5 0 in registrynwith the aperture for bolt 49 in arm :17. y

As previouslydescribed, the supporting arm 20 is adapted to be slidablyreceived in a complementary groove between flanges 22, so

as to assist in the location and automatic cenm' f r y a rings aretering of the sign unitupon'the supporting jllnita The provision ofaplurality'of-se'p arate 'clamping members 39 with relatively lon curingbolts 43 also increases the amount of adjustment which maybe made to.clamp rings ,or posts of different sizes. The sign unit illustrated inFigs l to 5 is best adapted to utilized on posts where the lamp 13 is ofsuch a height that it is more desirable that the sign belocated near thetop of the lamp 13, thereby permitting utilization of all of the lightradiated from thelo-wer part ofthe lamp for lllumlnating theterrainwithout casting shadows on the ground. sizes, and provided with firm anddurable lconnection'to the lamp-post onothe'r device,

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in F igs.' 7 andS, this modifiedform of construcfl- Q11 1S best adapted to be used where it isdesired'to locatethe ,sign unit slightly below the luminous body 13. Inthis construction the supporting unit 21, signframes 16 and signs 33,may be identical in construction to that previously described, but theframework of the present device is; peculiarlyadapted to support'theframes in a 'di'lfenent manner and greatly reduce the deaclaveight'of the sign t 7,.

"In this embodiment, the framework consists bf a plurality of radiallyextending arms 52;having their inner ends 53 of sub'stan- Itially' thesame shapeas that previously described. The arms 52 may be straight sothat they extend fout horizontally, or, if desired,

they may be provided with a downward'curye to locate the slgn unitlower, and the outer ends of thearms52 and 53 are provided withoutwardly extending flanges 54 and 55 which 1 are located at rightangles to each other, and diagonally with respect to the radial arm 52.

Each of theflanges 54; and 55 may be provided with a plurality ofapertures for receiv ingscrew bolts 56 for securing the upper portion ofthe sign frames 16 to the arm 52' in the same manner as in the previousembodiment. v I

The lower and adjacent corners of the sign frames 16 are pivotallysecured to each other by providinga right angle bracket 57 having 1 apair of'flanges, each of which is provided with an aperture forreceiving screw bolts 58 adjacent sign frames. I i The slgn frames ofthis device arealso capable of. angular ad ustment to utilize the whichare threaded into the'fiaugesQ'T of the I illumination to the bestadvantage, but the frames depend fromy-their supporting arms 7 Y 7 sothat the structure of the supporting arms slot permits radialadjustnientof, the clamping members 39 to fit'postsor rlngs of any size,whilestilimaintaining'some partsign unitsis as follows. The supportingunit 21 is first secured toa partof the post, preferably the ring-12which carries the globe 13,

I, and this maybe done by assembling partof the supporting unit-ton theground and com.- 1

pleting the assembly at the top of the post.

ill!

' unit may he slid Ion two ofthe radial arms be can hold the supportingunit withlone hand and manipulate his tools with the other. Fig. .6illustrates the completion of the first step inthe installation ofsigns. a

The signs should preferably be removed from the sign unit, while'it isbeing installed, in order to eliminate breakage and decrease the weight,and the sign may be assembled 011 the ground before application to thepost, Q v

' bodiment of my invention, many modificawith the exception of onecorner, and the tightening of the respective bolts. lVith one corneropen and the bolts loosened. the frames may be sprung apart to permitthe sign unit to be placed about thebottom of the post, after a whichthe assembly may be completed and the bolts tightened. In some cases itmay be found desirable to nsert. the slgns on the ground, after the unitis assembled aboutthe st. v

P The sign unit 14L may then be raised about the post 11 and the arms17, being located to preventinterference with the arms; the

sign unit may be raised above the supporting unit 21, rotated slightlyand seated upon the pp ting arms 21. When this is done, it is onlynecessary to. effect a preliminary seating of any twoof the arms 17 uponthe arms 20 of the supporting unit 21, after which the sign 20 until theotherarms 17come into registry with the other two radial arms 20, whenthe flanges-22 will automatically center and locate 0f the bolts 19 andifnecessary, other bolts the sign unit. In some embodimentsof theinvention,

where theornamentationof the top of thepost is too large to pass theends of the arms 17, the sign'umt may be assembled entlrely on theground .and lifted over the topof the globe 13,

provided the globe is small enough to clear the ends ofthe arms 17, asin the embodiment of Fig. 1 In extreme cases where the globe is toolarge, the present sign unit may be quickly installed by removing theglobe. After the sign unit is properly located, the arms 17 are securedto the arms 20 by means may be loosened or tightened to insurehorizontal and symmetrical location of the signs. 7

I It will thus be observed that the present in sign unit may beinstalled with much greater facility than the devices of the prior art,be-

cause the sign unit may be assembled on .the'

ground and merely lifted and supported in place by the supporting unit,while thebolts are fastened. This eliminates the necessity for a numberof extra workmen in the in V stallation of the signsyparticularly wherethe signs are constructed ofcast metal, and are therefore ofconsiderable weight. The present method of installation, however, has

' substantial advantages with signs. of practica lly any weight, becauseit is a diflicult matter to both support'ithe weight of the sign it isdesired. s

also adapted to uti-' in place and at the sametime secure it where Thepresent, signs are lize to the best advantage, the illumination providedby. practically all types of modern street lamps, by meansof the angularadjustmerit of the sign frames, and by means of above'or below theglobe. a a

While I have, illustrated a preferred em- Patent of the United States,is: I

1. A street sign assembly, comprising a street lamp lobe, a metalannulus for supporting said globe, and a street sign ha'vingatranslucent member adapted to be illuminated by said globe, said streetsign including a plurality of clamping members having recesses tOTBCGlVGsecuringdevices carried by said annulus, and said clamping members beingsecured on said annulus.

2. In a street s gn assembly, the combination'of a concretelamp post,with a metal annulus carried thereby for supporting a .the differenttypes of arms provided, the sign frames may be located substantiallyglobe, a globe carried by said annulus, a supporting unit comprisingclamping members clamped on saidannulus and having radially extendingarms, and a sign unit comprising a plurality of frames with streetsigns, means for pivotally securingtogetherthe lower and adjacentcorners of said frames, and horizontal arms carried by said radial arms,and having flanges engaging the sides of said radial arms, saidhorizontal arms having means for adjustably supporting depending signframes from their upper parts. a

3. 'A street sign, comprising a concrete post having a metal annulusfixedly secured to said post to provide a support for a street lamp, anillumination globe carried by said annulus, a plurality of metalclamping members having curved surfaces for engaging said annulus, andadjustable threaded members for securing 'sald clamping members on saidannulus, said clamping members havingradially extending arms, metal signframes having translucent signs in said frames for illumination by saidglobe, meansfor securing the lower corners of said frames together, endto end toform a sign assembly, and a radial arm at each ofthe corners ofsaid assembly for supporting said sign assembly below said annulus, eachof said'latter radial arms being secured to one of the arms of saidclamping members. l

4. A street sign, comprising a concrete post having a metal annulusfixedly secured to said post to provide a support for a street lamp, aglobe carried by said annulus, a plurality of metal clamping members,each hav ing a curved surface for engaging said an-' nulus, and aradially extending arm for supporting a sign assembly, adjustablethreaded members for securing said clamping members on said annulus, aplurality of metal sign frames each having a sign in said framefo'rillumination by said globe, means for securing the lower corners ofsaid frames to gether, end to end, to form a sign assembly, 7 a signsupporting arm for each corner of said sign assembly, said signsupporting arms having downwardly extending flanges for engaging on bothsides of said radial arms,- and having a pair of arms extending at rightangles to each other atthe outer end of said sign supporting arms, saidsign frames having their upper corners secured to said latter rightangle arms, and said sign framesdepending from said arms below saidglobe tolbe illumined by downwardly and laterally directed rays of lightwithout obscuring said globe. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribemy name this 29th day of-October, 1929. HARRY'H. REYNOLDS.

